NHTSA complaint: 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
PURCHASED A 2007 ML350 APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO. PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY DURING A HOUSE HUNTING TRIP, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK WITH THE GEAR CHANGE BUTTON ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL, OPENED THE DOOR, EXITED THE AUTO, WALKED UP THE STAIRS TO THE HOUSE AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR. IT WAS AT THIS POINT I HEARD MY WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN (WHO WERE STILL IN THE CAR) SHOUTING AT ME. I TURNED TO SEE THE CAR MOVING FORWARD. THE CAR HAD BEEN PLACED IN PARK (THE P WAS NOTED PRIOR TO MY LEAVING THE AUTO) AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAD POPPED ITSELF THROUGH N - NEUTRAL INTO D-DRIVE AND WAS ROLLING FORWARD. I RAN TO THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PLACE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PLACE THE CAR BACK INTO P-PARK, THE CAR CAUGHT MY LEG AND I WAS DRAGGED WITH THE CAR ANOTHER 15 FEET, UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE GEAR INTO P-PARK. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT ROLLED INTO THE CLOSED GARAGE DOOR. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, WHERE IT WAS SCRAPED ALONG A STUCCO WALL AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHERE IT MADE CONTACT WITH THE GARAGE DOOR. THE HOMEOWNERS GARAGE DOOR HAS A SIZABLE DENT IN IT. MY KNEE HAS A DEEP ABRASION FROM BEING DRAGGED UNDER THE CAR, AND IS EDEMATOUS, WITH DECREASED MOVEMENT. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE UNHARMED. I PLACED A CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER ARRIVING HOME. THEY HAVE ADVISED I BRING IN THE AUTOMOBILE SO THEY CAN REVIEW THE COMPUTER CHIP THAT DOCUMENTS THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE CAR WAS PLACED INTO PARK. *NM
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation